Why yes, I do want a mystery book vending machine.

This trilogy was so much fun! I'm really sad that it's over. I was a little worried they were going to have a crappy ending, but thankfully, it was great!

As an added bonus, the author has a delightful pinterest board with random ephemera from the books (including the one posted above).
https://www.pinterest.ca/mmjmmjmmj/truly-devious/

Can't believe I have two panned books in the #CanadaReads2020 series. I suspect this is one of those times where expectations influence opinions. The theme for Canada Reads this year is “one book to bring Canada into focus“, but this book is SO America-centric I just can't see it.

Image from author's website here:
https://craphound.com/radicalized-full/2019/12/05/radicalized-is-one-of-the-cbcs...

Can‘t seem to stop posting from this book. 😁

Who doesn't love a good bookmobile? 💚 💙 💜 💛 ❤

Reading the ebook, but I love the illustration style so much I might splurge and buy a physical copy as a coffee table book.

Only 10 pages in...i fear this is this going to be another one of those cautionary tales about the evils of technology. Sigh.

Buses crashes happen every freaking day. Humans are terrible, awful, horrible drivers. #of fatalities from car accidents is heart-breakingly high.

I‘ll take my chances with a hackable robot driver over an unreliable human any time.

Oh Stevie, I‘ve missed you.

Pretty fun and whimsical. Teenaged-me would‘ve absolutely loved it.

Welp.

Can‘t believe it took me so long to read this. Love the juxtaposition of Vladek‘s story and Art trying to get Vladek‘s story.

I was fortunate enough to see the Royal Winnipeg Ballet‘s INCREDIBLE rendition of Wizard of Oz. Wowsa! I don‘t know where to start! I think the flying monkeys were my fav. Write up and more awesome photos (including the ones here):

https://anhistorianabouttown.com/rwb-wizard-of-oz/
https://www.soundcheckentertainment.ca/dorothy-lands-in-the-capital/

I‘m loving this book. Wonderfully written, somehow both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

“Closure, for me, would mean accepting my circumstances rather than trying to alter them to serve me best.”

Despite giving this a “pan”, I love these quotes. So much emotion in so few words.

This book just wasn't for me, so it just barely scrapes into the “pan“ category. But i have to admit, rating it that was seems harsh...it's one of the first times i've ever felt a pang of guilt rating a book. Maybe it was a case of too high expectations?

That about sums it up. 😂 😆

It's Canada Reads time! 🇨🇦 🍁 Every year, I'm less and less impressed with the debates that go on during Canada Reads week. Every year, I tell myself I'm not going to bother next time. But somehow, *every year*, I skim the synopsis on the short list and think “Oooh! That book sounds interesting!“ What's a gal to do? So many books, so little time. 🤷‍♀️

https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/meet-the-canada-reads-2020-contenders-1.543...

I wasn't sure how I felt about the book for a while, but I'll be honest, the last 1/4 is really what made the book for me. I'm glad I stuck with it because the ending was worth it. Lots of interesting characters and not-so-black-and-white situations that make you think.

I skimmed the summary of this book and it didn't really seem like my kinda thing, but I read it anyway cuz someone recommended it to me. Can't say I enjoyed it, but that's on me. The book delivered exactly what it promised to deliver. Food memoirs just aren't for me.

Silver lining: I discovered there's a movie called “Relish“, so this counts as my #PopSugarReadingChallenge: “a book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it“

I just don't know how to rate this book. I can list 20 things I love about it, and one that i don't...and somehow that one outweighs all the rest. See spoiler below.

I love this “sketchbook review“ of Crawdads by Laurel Holden. An illustrated watercolour review seems perfect for this book.
http://www.laurelholden.com/coffee-clouds/2018/12/27/where-the-crawdads-sing-ske...

My commute to work consists of a bus ride (when I read a book) and a 20 min walk (when I listen to a audiobook). I may have chosen my books poorly this time around, cuz i'm having trouble making the mental shift between Wilder Girl's heavy, dystopian survival horror and No Country for Old Gnomes' cheeky, campy, over-the-top monty python-esque romp through Skyr. It's a self-induced emotional roller coster.

There‘s something about a boarding school run amok that makes a great setting for almost any story.

What a great dedication.

I always struggle to read over the holidays. There‘s always a lot of “hurry up and wait” scenarios, so even though it feels like there are gaps in the day, they‘re not exactly conducive to pulling out a book. This year I loaded up a bunch of graphic novels on my iPad. It was perfect! I could read a page or two at a time, and some reason, no one gets offended when you open an iPad while patiently waiting they way they do when you open a book.

I love the variety of advice, stories, and wisdom in this book.

So true.

I forgot how many cheeky details Fitzgerald threw in this book.

Just noticed there's a new 2020 reading log with the Read Harder challenge! (yeah...it was posted 3 weeks ago, i'm just slow on the ball 😅)

https://bookriot.com/2019/12/04/2020-reading-log/

I hear ya, Kya. I‘m always amazed at how different the days and nights feel when travelling across Canada to visit family.

Heading to a Gatsby themed New Years Eve party next week, so figured I‘d spend a lazy Christmas morning re-reading it.

This is my own fault. I don‘t really like cozy mysteries, but it‘s been years since I read one and I was suckered in by a library display. As far as cozy mysteries go, this was pretty good I guess, but not really a book for me. A quick read.

Just realized they made a graphic novel of this book. I dig the artwork. It‘s always interesting to see how an artist envisions what you imagined in your head.

Artwork credit:
The Marsh Girl
https://www.deviantart.com/pinguicha/art/The-Marsh-Girl-798544894

Really loved the writing style of this book.

There‘s some pretty big time jumps, where the author “conveniently” leaves out several years, or even decades. While this didn‘t bother me too much, I wonder if it would have been better formatted as a trilogy, rather than one single book.

Been fighting a nasty cold all week. Woke up feeling MUCH better this morning...buuuut....I *may* have omitted that fact so I can stay in bed with a book. 🤫

I know I‘m late to the party on this one, but I‘m totally sucked in by the writing style. I‘m enjoying this book a lot more than I thought i would.

UGH I just can't with this audio book, somehow all of the main character voices sound unnecessarily whiney. Not sure this version is for me...

Learning the names of countries and cities in another language is a funny thing. Sometimes they‘re exactly the same, sometimes they‘re radically different.

I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to figure out where “Sourisia “ is...only to discover it‘s the French equivalent of “Mouseville” which makes sense, since the main characters are mice. 🤣🤦‍♀️😂

The first one in the series is still my fave, but it was still a good series overall. Looking forward to sharing this with my little niece and nephew.

This book has been on my holds list at the library for 8 months or so...I almost forgot about it until my Mum told me she just bought the ebook and lent it to me. Family FTW!

This is almost like two different books. I wasn't sure about the first part, but I really liked the second half. From what I gather from reviews, others have the exact opposite opinion.

Little did she yet understand that the end of childhood comes not when a child's body changes with puberty, but when her mind is finally able to see her life through the eyes of an outsider.

Hmmm....I now realize the winter clothing I recently purchased exactly matches the cover of this book. I guess it had such an impact on me it's affecting my subconscious now. 😃

“Whenever I felt nervous, pockets always boosted my confidence. Because I could fill them with tricks.“

Yes! *This* is why I always say women's clothing needs more pockets!

So true!

I love Litsy because I never feel ashamed of what I read. 😃

An interesting story told in such a way that i felt a connection with the main characters, even though it was a short book. J‘aime les illustrations!

This book is so good, even the author notes are awesome. #RepresentationMatters